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Legal Issues Seminar
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
 

Join your colleagues for the VAIS Legal Issues Seminar, March 9, 2022. This year’s ½ day virtual program features legal hot topics for independent school leaders including issues related to students, employees, and enterprise risk management. In this lively and interactive program, experienced education and employment lawyers Sara Schwartz and Matt Batastini will facilitate a conversation about 2022’s top legal issues facing independent school leaders in Virginia.  Case studies will be used throughout the program to generate dialogue and highlight real-world situations and practical solutions.  Get a lens into legal trends and collaborate with colleagues during breakout sessions.  Please see Schwartz Hannum PC Website for more information regarding the Firm, its attorneys, and the scope of the Firm’s practice.

LOCATION:
Virtual. Link will be sent to registrants closer to the program

PRESENTERS:

 Sara Schwartz
is the Founder and President of Schwartz Hannum PC, a law firm founded in 1995 and based in Andover, MA, that specializes in education, employment, and labor law.  In the course of representing more than 250 educational institutions across the United States, Sara has become a trusted advisor to Heads of Schools, Presidents, Chairmen of the Board, Deans, Business Officers, and others as independent school and higher education leaders tackle and resolve matters of school governance, student and employee disciplinary matters, risk management, sexual abuse allegations, and the myriad compliance documents such as enrollment agreements, school bylaws, student/parent handbooks and more.  Sara is a cum laude graduate of both Yale College and Harvard Law School.  She began her legal career at the law firm of Ropes & Gray in Boston, after completing a federal court clerkship with The Honorable William Young in Boston.  In 2013, Sara was selected by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a Top Woman of Law.  Sara has also been selected for inclusion in Massachusetts Super Lawyers® as a top Labor and Employment attorney for over ten years.   

Matthew D. Batastini is Managing Partner at Schwartz Hannum PC and a member of the Firm’s education and employment groups.  A strategic partner to educational institutions looking to promote a positive learning environment and resolve workplace issues, Matthew assists school clients with crafting and implementing policies and practices applicable to students, employees, and the larger school community.  Matthew also counsels school clients on investigations and responding to workplace issues, and defends school clients before state and federal government agencies and courts with respect to claims brought by their employees.  Matthew holds a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College and earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Seton Hall University School of Law.

SCHEDULE:

TIME SESSION
9:00 AM -  9:45 AM                                                                   

Session 1: Students
In the first segment, Sara and Matt will discuss student issues such as:  mask mandates and related legal challenges; updates to foundational documents; vaccine issues; affinity and ally groups on campus; parent and student complaints; and international student hot topics.

10:00 AM -10:45 AM    Session 2: Employees
In the second segment, Sara and Matt will discuss employee issues such as:  investigating allegations of employee misconduct; how to prevent, identify and respond to employee unrest; and accommodations for employees with respect to remote learning, masking, vaccination and more.
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Session 3: Enterprise Risk Management 

In the final segment, Sara will offer a practical approach to Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”) - a tool for strategic decision-making, from identifying and assessing key risks, to managing and monitoring those risks consistent with each school’s strategic goals, risk tolerance, and available resources. 

 

REGISTRATION:
Registration includes all school access for a half day virtual learning. Only one person per school needs to register for your all school access. Registration deadline is Friday, March 4.

WHO FEE
VAIS Member      $200 per school     
Non-Member $400 per school

 

REGISTER FOR THE LEGAL ISSUES SEMINAR